Joseph Dawson

Solicitor

Areas of Practice:

“Joseph Dawson is a ‘very knowledgeable and confident; he is a rising star’.”– Legal 500 2017

Having qualified in May 2010, Joseph joined Leigh Day’s Manchester office in November 2016 from Irwin Mitchell LLP bringing with him many years of international personal injury experience in dealing exclusively with accidents that occur outside England and Wales.

Joseph has extensive experience of dealing with complex and high value personal injury claims, dealing exclusively with accidents occurring abroad since July 2010, from hotel and RTA claims to accidents whilst working abroad. Joseph has an in depth knowledge and understanding which has enabled him to successfully overcome issues involving complex matters of jurisdiction and applicable law.

Joseph has achieved significant high value settlements for many seriously and catastrophically injured claimants, with his experience including:

Succeeding in a claim at trial against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) following an accident in France whereby the MIB refused to compensate the severely injured claimant on the basis of an intrinsic point of French law.

Acting for an English couple who were involved in a hit and run whilst walking back to their hotel in Spain, resulting in life changing and career ending injuries.

Acting for an English holidaymaker who suffered spinal fractures as a result of falling down a poorly covered “manhole” in a Mexican hotel.

Successfully representing an English employee who suffered significant back injuries as a result of a fall due to poor working conditions in a helicopter hanger based in India.

Training in the field of international travel injuries has always been at the forefront of Joseph’s work as he has both delivered and organised training seminars, focusing on the changing scope and finer points of international injury law. Joseph has also, for several years been an active part of an LPC mentoring scheme, helping to guide LPC and GDL students through their professional skills courses and coaching them for entry into the legal profession.

Joseph can often be found helping raising money for very worthy and charitable causes, including braving a 2km charity swim in an icy Irish fjord to raise vital funds for a charity that supports the survivors of sexual abuse. He has also completed the “triathlon” of athletic accomplishments by both cycling and running in 5k charity runs.

Joseph is a member of the Pan European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers (PEOPIL) and APIL and has regularly been approached by the media to comment on numerous cases involving international travel law issues. Joseph has provided interviews and given comments to both local and national newspapers as well as being interviewed for radio programmes.

Professional memberships:

Law Society, The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), The Pan European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers (PEOPIL).

Education & career:

Educated at Withernsea High School, University of Hull and College of Law (now University of Law).

Qualified as a solicitor in May 2010 at GMS Law. Joined Irwin Mitchell LLP in July 2010. Joined Leigh Day in November 2016.

Reported cases

Marshall & Pickard v MIB [2015] EWHC 3421 (QB) (acted for Mr Pickard) Succeeded in a claim at Trial against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) following an accident in France whereby the MIB refused to compensate the severely injured claimant on the basis of an intrinsic point of French law.